xii INTRODUCTION 



2. if its vowel is followed by "x" or "z." 



3. if its vowel is short but followed by two or more conso- 

 nants. Except a mute (p, b, t, d, c, k, g, q,) followed by 

 1 or r or by x or z. 



4. if it contains a diphthong.* 



5. final as, es, os are long. 



A syllable not held to be long is short. 



A final syllable ending in any consonant other 

 than "s" is short (-is, -us, and -ys are short). There 

 are few exceptions. 



In pure Latin words a vowel is long: 



1. if it is formed by the contraction of a diphthong. 



2. if it occurs before "gm" (and often "gn"), "nf," and "ns." 



3. if it occurs before "consonant i" =y (with the sound of y 

 in yet). 



4. usually if the "o" and "u" are final. 



In pure Latin words a vowel is short: 



1. if it occurs before another vowel or "h," thus: via, nihil. 

 An exception is found in some words transcribed from 

 Greek. 



2. if it occurs before "nd" or "nt." Thus: amandus and 

 amant. 



Compound Words 



Many generic and trivial (specific) names of ani- 

 mals and plants consist of fabricated compound 



* The most common Latin diphthongs are "ae," "au," and 

 "oe." "eu" occurs in a few Latin words derived in part from 

 the Greek "eu," meaning "well, good." "-eus," a common 

 Latin adjectival ending, is pronounced "-S-us"; i.e., in two 

 syllables. The common Greek diphthongs "ae" (represented 

 by ae), "ei>" (transliterated "eu"), and "en" (transliterated 

 "oe") are considered long in pronunciation. 



